Jason Collins among first lady’s State of the Union guests

First lady Michelle Obama’s guests for the State of the Union address will include former NBA player Jason Collins and two survivors of the Boston Marathon bombing, the White House announced Monday.

Others joining the first lady for Tuesday night’s speech in the House chamber include the District of Columbia’s 2013 teacher of the year and the fire chief of tornado-ravaged Moore, Okla., as well as a teenager who brought a marshmallow-shooting air cannon to the 2012 White House Science Fair.

Jason Collins and the politics of coming out

Obama and the marshmallow cannon

The guests who join the first lady often help illustrate key points the president makes in his speech. President Barack Obama’s guests last year included family members of the victims of the Newtown, Conn., school shooting as he demanded that Congress vote on tougher gun laws.

Collins, who spent 12 years years playing professional basketball, drew the praise of the president and first lady after coming out last year in a Sports Illustrated cover story. “He seems like a terrific young man, and I told him I couldn’t be prouder,” the president said soon after he spoke with Collins by phone. In May, the first lady and Collins co-hosted a major Democratic National Committee fundraiser for LGBT donors.

The marathon bombing survivors joining the first lady are Carlos Arredondo, 53, and Jeff Bauman, 27, who lost both his legs in the attack last spring. The pair were photographed in the immediate aftermath of the bombing, as Arredondo — clad in a white cowboy hat — helped emergency workers rush to care for Bauman.

Kathy Hollowell-Makle began work in D.C. public schools as a member of Teach for America and has spent 15 years in teaching. She teaches at Abram Simon Elementary School in Southeast Washington.

Gary Bird, the fire chief from Oklahoma, “represents all of those who rallied together to help the community of Moore,” the White House said. In all, 25 people were killed in a May 20, 2013, tornado and more than 1,000 homes were destroyed.

Teenager Joey Hudy of Anthem, Ariz., seemed to amaze the president as his cannon shot a marshmallow across the East Room of the White House. Hudy, 16, is part of the “Maker” movement of people who create do-it-yourself projects that often involve technology. He’s also Intel’s youngest-ever intern and was offered the job on the spot after CEO Brian Krzanich saw Hudy’s exhibit at a Maker event.

The White House will announce more guests ahead of the speech, which starts at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday.